Te Arai Links Golf Course has lost one of its acclaimed restaurants as a result of a vicious fire that ravaged the northern Auckland property.
A colossal blaze has destroyed a luxury restaurant at the Te Arai Links Golf Course, north of Auckland. Fire emergency services responded to multiple calls mid Sunday morning, however with strong winds sweeping the area, the fire took almost two hours to get under control.
The fire was said to have been well involved throughout the roof of the building before specialist command units of the fire brigade arrived.
In a statement on social media, Te Arai Links said that the restaurant was lost, and that it had been a very emotional day for the team.
“We are incredibly grateful that no one was injured,” the statement said.
“We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the fire brigade for their rapid response. Given our remote location, their ability to arrive so quickly made a significant difference.”
The restaurant, Ric’s Restaurant, was often viewed as the heart of the golf course by members. It is one of many dining locations at the golf course, including Bunker Bar, the North Clubhouse, Halfway House, Ocean Restaurant, and the Silver Bean coffee cart.
The statement said Ric’s was more than a restaurant.
“It’s the heartbeat of Te Arai Links. It’s where our team and our guests come together, and where so many moments have been created.”
The fire was said to have started at the back of the building, which allowed staff enough time to evacuate the people who had arrived for breakfast, according to a spokesperson for the golf course.
Now, Te Arai Links said it will eventually rebuild the restaurant.
“Our focus now is to support the team and continue to take care of our members and guests with a temporary solution while we rebuild, and we will rebuild, quickly and thoughtfully, into something even stronger.”
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